Nurul Anwar on Malaysian elections and her famous Dad

Posted
May 01, 2013 13:48:00

Malaysians will vote this weekend in what political analysts are calling the closest election since the country's independence. The last election in 2008 delivered a shock for the party that's ruled since 1957 -- it lost its two thirds majority in the parliament to a coalition formed around the country's former Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim. His daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, won a seat in the parliament in 2008. She tells us she is cautiously optimistic about this weekend's election and how the arrest of her father in 1998 opened her eyes politically.

ELEANOR HALL: Malaysians will vote this weekend in what political analysts are calling the closest election since the country's independence.

The last election in 2008 delivered a shock for the party that's ruled since 1957 - it lost its two thirds majority in the parliament to a coalition formed around the country's former deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim.

Mr Anwar was arrested in 1998 and jailed for six years after falling out with then prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad. He was arrested again in 2004 but is now the unofficial leader of the opposition coalition.

His daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, won a seat in the parliament in 2008.

She spoke to me from Kuala Lumpur and said she is cautiously optimistic about this weekend's election.

NURUL IZZAH ANWAR: If you look at the polling results, the latest one clearly shows that Anwar Ibrahim is now more popular and seen as a more credible prime minister versus Najib. And this is why this election they are putting everything to ensure that he remain in power.

ELEANOR HALL: When you say they're putting everything in are you concerned about fraud?

NURUL IZZAH ANWAR: Partly. You know, we were quite shocked by this postal voting exercise and you know, it's quite alarming because in some constituencies there were no observers because of the change in timing by the electoral commission.

Additionally, you're talking about a lot of overseas voters. They found some markings on the ballot paper. So of course we raised concerns. Additionally you're looking at increased incidences of political violence against the opposition and we are concerned that the voters will be too scared to come out.

ELEANOR HALL: Let's look at the big picture. How would Malaysia change if your coalition were to win this weekend?

NURUL IZZAH ANWAR: You are talking about right now the refusal of the Najib government to eradicate corruption. Additionally, you're talking about the views of the politics of race and fear. You are talking about a prime minister fielding one of the worst, most tarnished of candidates who have utilised racist rhetoric like never before.

So for me, a Pakatan win signals hope for change. A Pakatan win showcases that we have a coalition that will implement policies for the benefit of all Malaysians.

ELEANOR HALL: You say that you'd like to see a more open and free society but one of the three parties in your coalition is insisting on hudud or Sharia law. How comfortable are you personally with this?

NURUL IZZAH ANWAR: I think it's very important to understand we are a coalition of equal partners and we have a common policy framework. We have implemented a framework more than three years back, even the issue of hudud pops up. There is nothing that the Malaysians should fear except of course the negative propaganda by the government.

ELEANOR HALL: But specifically on Sharia or hudud law - is that a policy in your coalition? It's certainly the policy of one of the key parties, isn't it?

NURUL IZZAH ANWAR: The more recent manifesto by the Islamic party clearly states that their main objective is to implement a welfare-based state. Similarly, there's no mention of the things you state in the common party framework but the problem is, we keep on being attacked.ELEANOR HALL: But you're saying that Sharia law will not come in if you win government?

NURUL IZZAH ANWAR: It is not in the common policy framework and we're not denying that there are certainly Islamic corners in the more conservative areas in the northern militia but that is the beauty of Malaysia. We have such a rich diversity.

We have successfully governed in the four states as a coalition. It is not like a (inaudible) formula. It brings that change onto the federal level.

ELEANOR HALL: The fear of Islamic law though has sparked rioting and arson attempts already. Are you concerned that whipping this up could mean ethnic divisions resurface in a deadly manner?

NURUL IZZAH ANWAR: Of course we've been seeing this for years. This time around I feel very optimistic. I think each coalition member, each leader understands there's so much at stake. The hope of many Malaysians in our hands.

ELEANOR HALL: There is a huge increase in first time voters this election. To what extent could the political involvement of young Malaysians change the direction of your country?

NURUL IZZAH ANWAR: They are one of the key makers. You are talking about almost 30 per cent of the first time voters are going to be young people. And the point is, you're looking at a more discerning, more critical group.

They have access to social media, they might be denied coverage of the opposition in traditional media but they certainly get access while video our leaders, our speeches, in their social media. So I believe what we have to do is ask that they come together because the future that they will inherit is going to be a bleak one without political reform.

ELEANOR HALL: You were very young when you were elected in 2008. What influence do you think that first arrest and imprisonment of your father in 1998 has had on your own political development?

NURUL IZZAH ANWAR: I was quite an introvert really I think, you know, what happened in 1998 made me own up to being one of the child of the Reformasi generation and to understand that the democratic institutions in this country when abused. So I think it really left an indelible mark.

ELEANOR HALL: You were only 18 at the time that your father was first imprisoned and at the time you were the daughter of the deputy prime minister. It must have been a huge shock to you.

NURUL IZZAH ANWAR: I think it would be a huge shock to anyone really. His political imprisonment was especially challenging, not only for me but for the rest of the family, for me and my sisters. We went to government school, we were born in a government hospital and what's important is that we are not the only ones who suffered.

You must understand, when you use the judiciary, the media, to condemn and victimise a man, there's so many others who are also victimised. There were so many scores of others who were detained under the security act.

ELEANOR HALL: Nurul Izzah Anwar, some dismiss you as simply your father's proxy, his stand in. What do you say to convince them otherwise?

NURUL IZZAH ANWAR: I mean I don't really focus on such attacks. They've been doing it for years. What's important is what I do with the position I have as a member of parliament because at the end of the day, it is my name on the ballot paper. It is me who make the decision to partake in the part of active politics and I would not back away from that.

We are not doing this for my father. I mean I love my father dearly but we are doing this because we love our country, because we want a better future. And I think that's a message that the young should replicate, you know. Say what you like. You can't stop me now.

ELEANOR HALL: That's Malaysian MP Nurul Izzah Anwar who's the daughter of the country's former deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim. She was speaking to me from Kuala Lumpur and you can listen to the full interview on our website.